The Images of Jamel Shabazz

We first met Jamel with his partner Shabazz about a year ago at our first Speak the Words You Breathe activist poetry event. They brought along with them about 6 images from 'back in the days' that we were honored to showcase with other creative activist pieces we had. As the event was winding down, we had our first real opportunity to discuss a possible collaboration. We all felt that we could develop powerful projects together, unique in its approach and vision. So, we decided to meet a few weeks later at the casa della La Lutta and discuss what our first project would be.

At this meeting, Jamel discussed a project he had in mind, a film titled Back in the Days: A Time Before Crack. It was at this meeting that the collaborative bond was formed between La Lutta and Jamel Shabazz. A bond that we felt could encompass many projects for a long time to come. Jamel "spoke from his heart" about how his photography, his creativity and his activist spirit prompted him to go deeper than he ever has. It was then that we decided to turn his current film project into a documentary. We have now been in production on Back in the Days for six months, entering the editing phase and nearing completion. What we have is an intense, emotional and realistic look the East Flatbush, Brooklyn community Jamel and his friends grew-up in during the 1970s before crack destroyed families, communities and lives. We will be screening an early cut of this documentary in September 2001 at the IFM. Jamel is the final stages of completing a book which includes his many brilliant images and thoughts. La Lutta is proud to lend words to this project in continued support of Jamel Shabazz. The book Back in Days, published by Powerhouse, is due out in April 2001.

Finally, as these images on this site indicate, Jamel's work is challenging, intelligent and unrivaled in its aim: to speak truth to power. La Lutta is grateful to collaborate with Jamel as he continues to grow as a creative activist. We will be hosting a media activist event featuring all his new work in the Summer 2001. We are also in pre-production on a new film with Jamel. The Room is a narrative film that looks at the lives of soldiers from every class, color and creed and their interactions while serving in the army abroad. Look for these and many other projects in the months ahead. Jamel Shabazz's work has appeared in countless magazines, museums and galleries throughout the world. He recently had work at Hip-Hop Nation: Roots, Rhymes, and Rage at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Next, his work will be shown in Milan, Italy.